'You have to evolve with the times': Ravi Shastri backs Impact Player rule in IPL

Former India coach Ravi Shastri has backed the idea of the Impact Player rule as he thinks fans and players should evolve according to the new trend. The Impact Player rule, first introduced in the IPL2023, has added a new dimension to T20 cricket as teams have the flexibility to play an extra batter or an extra bowler according to the need of the hour. While it is still under consideration for future IPL tournaments, Shastri has come outin support ofthe game-changing rule.

Shastri backs Impact Playerrule

"The Impact Player [rule] is good. You have to evolve with the times," Shastri told R Ashwin on his YouTube channel. "You know, it happens in other sports as well. It's got tighter finishes.You have to evolve with the timesandI think it'sa good rule.You saw the number of tight finishes we had in last year's IPL. So, you know, it has made a big difference."

The Impact Player rule has had its owncriticswhile few have also bought into the idea of using it at the international level. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah has hinted that the Impact Player rule is not yetadopted completelyby the IPL and willbe reviewedin a meeting with the stakeholders.

"You knowwhenany new rule comes in, there will be…people will try and justify why that's not right," Shastri said. "But intimewhen you see the scores - 200 and 190 - andthenlike youmentionedindividuals grabbing that opportunity and making the most of it, people will start re-looking at how they think about it."

ALSO READ |Cricket Ireland confirms historic Pakistan tour in 2025; to play in Test and limited-overs series

What is the Impact Player Rule?

A team canmake changes toits Playing XI once the match has started by permanently substituting a player. The player coming on will be the Impact Playerwhowill be able to bat and bowl andwillparticipate in the rest of the match. The team batting first would often bring a bowling Impact Playerin placeof a batter, which gives additional force to the bowling.

Vice versa, theteam bowling first would bring a batting Impact Playerin placeof a bowler to strengthen their batting order. This season, players like Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Jos Buttler and many others have come in as Impact Player for their respective sides in IPL 2024.